It’s never too early to see a doctor to discuss your risk for heart disease. In fact, the new primary prevention guidelines say that the earlier the risk factors for heart disease are prevented or treated, the less likely you are to develop heart disease later in life.

So, if you’re concerned about your risk for heart disease, make an appointment to discuss how you can prevent this highly preventable condition.

If you’re having any symptoms at all, it’s very important to discuss these with your doctor as heart disease can masquerade in many different ways.

It’s easy to dismiss many warning signs of heart disease like fatigue, indigestion, and shortness of breath as just a normal part of life or mild illness. But because a heart attack can happen suddenly, it’s important not to ignore any potential warning signs.

If you have any of the above symptoms of heart disease, especially if you also have risk factors, see a doctor.

To diagnose heart disease, a doctor will first ask about your personal and family medical history. They’ll then ask about your symptoms, when they started, and how severe they are. They’ll also ask about your lifestyle, such as if you smoke or exercise.

Electrocardiogram (EKG) to measure electrical activity in the heart. This helps a doctor look at issues with your heart rhythm, as well as evidence of heart attacks.

Echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart and looks at your heart structure, function, and the performance of the heart valves.

Stress test to see how well your heart performs under physical stress. During this test, you’ll exercise while wearing equipment to measure your heart’s electrical signals and your blood pressure. It can predict whether you have blockages that may be limiting blood flow to your heart when you exercise.

Ankle brachial index, the ratio of the blood pressure in your legs to your arms.

Coronary CTA, a specialized CT scan that looks at the blood vessels around the heart to see if there are blockages present.

A doctor might also suggest a continuous EKG or ambulatory arrhythmia monitor, where you wear a device that constantly records your heart’s electrical signals. Depending on your symptoms, you might wear this device for a few days or a few weeks.

If these tests are inconclusive, you may need more invasive tests to diagnose heart disease. These include: